Working in travel physical therapy, you'll see more athlete patients
who participate in summer sports over the next few months. All the changes that
come along with this seasonal shift mean you'll have to adjust your technique
for treating patients as well as the advice you give them. Keep these bits of
information in mind:

Remind your
patients to ease back into exercise
For patients who enjoy summer sports like baseball, softball, swimming and track,
they may have gone through a long, inactive winter. If they only don a jersey
during the summer months, those in physical therapy jobs must make sure these patients
understand the importance of working their way into fitness at an appropriate
pace. Remember, slow and steady wins the race.

Easing back into exercise is more
effective if the patient starts managing his or her fitness level before the
sport's season begins. For instance, a track team member who hasn't run since
last sports season could easily develop plantar fasciitis from running with
tight muscles. However, running a few miles may be unavoidable by the time
practice starts. Doing light cardio, perhaps walking at first then moving into
more strenuous exercises, and stretching for several weeks prior prepares the
individual to complete the coach's conditioning demands safely.

Use the pool
as a tool
Even if your workplace doesn't have hydrotherapy equipment, you can still
suggest your patients perform aquatic exercises in their free time. After all, 10.4 million
U.S. homeowners have pools, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, which means many of your patients may enjoy taking a
dip to stay cool during summer.

Water workouts are great for
anyone who needs to get their body moving, as this form of exercise allows for
anything from strength building to cardio. However, aquatic therapy is
especially advantageous for people with arthritis, as pools allow for a
low-impact way to work out. Since you won't be with patients in their homes to
facilitate the exercises, be sure to provide specific directions on how to get
the most out of this activity in a safe manner.

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staffing specializing in the successful placement of Nursing, Advanced
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